Building construction



H. C- TROST.

I BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. I

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1922 1 419 995, PatentedJuneZO, 1922. SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Weary Waaf Patented J une 1922.

I jaw??? n a n m 4 1 H a w a n t r H.1c. mosT. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION mp0 JAN; 1,8, 1922.,

I Patented June 20, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- BUILDING QQMSTRUOTION. APPLICATIOII FILED JAN- 18. I922- Patented J we 20, 1922'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 3 Ill III I IIIIIII H. c. TROST. 7 BUILDING CONSTR UCTION.

HENRY C. TRUST, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

BUILDING o'onsrnuo'rrou.

Application filed January 18, 192%.

T 0 all "whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, il-ln'n'nr C. Tnosr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of El Paso, in the county of 151 Paso and tiltate of Texas, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Building Constructions, of which the following 1s a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of my specification.

My invention relates more particularly to sleeping compartments adapted to be readily applied to or constructed in a buildiug; the invention having for its object the provision of means whereby a sleeping compartment or series of compartments may be provided in the outer side wall of abuildiug, preferably adjacent to the roof or overhanging structure, in weather-proof relation therewith and formed to be readily accessible from the room or main portion of an apartment while permitting the occupant, after retiring, to manipulate the structure so as to admit air from the exterior of the building, or to practically expose the entire bed to the exterior of the building while the remainder of the room or apartment may be completely closed off and A draughts across the bed or the admission of cold air into the main portion of the apartment or room thereby prevented.

The invention contemplates, in conjunction with a couch or bed, the provision of a wall provided with a window-frame or sashsection and with one or more sliding sections; the wall with the window-sash section and the sliding section being adapted to swing as a unit toward opposite sides of the bed or couch; with the window-frame and sliding sections so correlated that the inward and outward swinging movement of the wall can only be accomplished when said sections have been arranged in a predetel-mined relation to each other.

A further object of the invention is' to provide a construction of the character mentioned which will be weather-proof when in complete closed position, that is to say when the wall, consisting of the respective sections, has been swung outwardly where it in reality constitutes the outer wall section of the building; it being understood that the construction is more essentially adapted for use in the upper part of a building, although permitting its employment at any point in the side wall of a building.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd Jung 20, 1922.

Serial No. 530,013.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective View of a plurality of my improved sleeping compartments arranged adjacent to the roof of a building.

Figure 2 is a verticalseotional elevation of my improved structure.

l igure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the off-set line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure :i: is a detail sectional view taken on the line -.'llof Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

' section, of the sliding portion of the swing ing wall section.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a member of the sliding portion.

The invention, as exemplified in the drawings, is illustrated in connection with the upper portion of a building wherein the main side .wall is provided with sullicient sizedopening or openings, through which the floor of the adjacent room may project to a predetermined extent, if desired. My improved structure is secured in the opening so as to. jut out from the main wall and it comprises suitable studs or jarnbs 20, at each side of the opening in the wall; the jambs. 20 being preferably shown in the nature of channel metal so as to provide a weight or counterbalance slide-way, see Figure 2. Secured to the jamb 20 are the end walls or partitions 21, which may also be of sheet metal, such as ply-metal, or other suitable material, adapted to extend from the roof portion 22 of the structure down to the floor from a point preferably slightly beneath the main roof 23 of the building, or overhanging portion of the building, as the j ambs are, of course, secured to the main wall of the building.

The outer edges of the end walls or partitions 21 are provided with a jamb 2 1 which is also preferably made of sheet metal provided with an outwardly projecting reenforcing rib 25; the amb 2st being formed to provide the lower vertically disposed portion 2 1, of predetermined height, and the sloping or inwardly inclining portion 24, whereby the compartment is given greater width at the bottom to receive a bed or couch indicated at 26; the lower portions 2% being provided with the panels or portions 27 (see Figures 1 and 2), constituting a parapet or non-movable wall section. In order that my improved sleeping compartment may be made as a separate unit adapted to be built in or secured to a previously built house, I have shown the main portions composed of sheet metal of suitable shapes to provide proper strength and at the same time withstand the weather. At the upper ends of the jambs 24: I show a cr0ss-piece 28 of any suitable construction, so as to provide a weather-seal for the movable or swinging wall section later to be described. The upper edge of the panel 27 of the parapet is shown provided with a sill member 29 having the upper rounded edge adapted to overlap the upper edge of a bracket or rail portion 30 which may be di posed lengthwise of the compartment and may either be secured to or formed integral with the panel 27 and bent so as to have sufficient strength to support the bed 26 of usual length; the sill being formed to provide a proper water-shed or joint at the lower end of the swinging wall section. The opposite side of the bed 26 is supported by a bracket or rail 31, shown formed out of sheet metal to constitute not only a bed-supporting rail, but also a sill adapted to conform with and overlap the lower end of the swinging wall section, on the outer side thereof, as shown at 31 the rail and sill extending from one jamb or upright member 20 to the other. In the construction illustrated in Figure 2, the bed is shown as removably held in place, thus permitting renovation and replacement when occasion should require.

The movable wall consists of a panel portion 82 of ply-metal or other suitable material, preferably given the canopy orbowed formation, as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7, adapted to shed rain; the bowed portion being formed integral with the two sides 33, 33, which are flanged or have the bent marginal portions 34, 3 1 while the upper edge of the bowed portion is bent upwardly at 35 and formed integral with or secured to the marginal portions 34, 8a. The side marginal portions 3-1, 34 are shown pr0- vided with the channel members 36, 36; the open sides whereof are preferably disposed inwardly or toward each other, see F igure r. The lower ends of the channel members 36 are slotted longitudinally for a predetermined distance, as shown at 37, while the upper ends of said channel members are each provided with a bracket 38, suitably secured thereto and arranged to carry a pulley 39 disposed preferably on the inner adjacent sides of the channel members or rails 36 and therefore substantially in alignment with the sides of the jambs or uprights 20, 20. The bowed part of the panel 32, preferably in the substantially vertical portion thereof, is provided with a window-frame as at 40, of any suitable construction for one or more glass panes, which may either be stationarily held or slidable. The upper end of each channel member or rail 36, is apertured at il to receive a pivot pin or bolt 42, whereby the composite panel 82 is pivotally secured in place to swing laterally. The side wall or partition 21 of the compartment is shown preferably provided with a bracket or reenforcing channeled plate 43 adapted to receive the pivot bolt 9'2, see Figures 8 and 9; and the side wall or partition 21 at this point is preferably reenforced by the stud or bar 14 extending to the bottom of the compartment.

The channel members or rails 36 of panel section 32 are each provided with a channel member or section 45, see Figures 10 and 11, of suitable length and provided in one side or leg thereofwith a slot or longitudinally cut-away portion as at 16, which receives a pin or projecting lug 17, secured at a predetermined point on the adjacent part of a side frame 48, which may be of the Z-bar construction, of which two are shown more clearly in Figure 10, and provided with the panel 49; the side members or frame -18, providing a snug weather-proof relation with the channel members or rails 36, while atthe same time permitting the frame 48 to freely slide in the channel members or 1'ails 86 without binding.

The upper edge of the slidable panel a9 is pre'liarably provided on its outer side with the Z-bar strip 50 mlttpi'fll to overlap the upwardly disposed edge of a somewhat similar strip 51 secured at the lower end and inner side of the bowed panel 32 (see Figure 10) 'to provide a weatherproof connection between said panels when panel 49 is in its lowered position at which time the panel a9 will be resting on the ledge of sill member 29, as shown inFigure 2, thus completely closing the sleeping compartment on the outer side thereof against the admission of air or rain. .The upper ends of the side frame 4:8 are each shown provided with a cordor chain 52 which leads upwardly over pulley 39 at the upper ends of the swinging wall section, thence inwardly along the side walls or partitions 21 into a suitable opening in the side of the jamb 20 and over a employed,

pulley as at 53, located within the iamb; while the end of the chain or cord 52 is provided with a suitable counterweight 54, which is adapted to counterbalance the sliding elements or sections of the wall.

Pivotally secured at 55 to the reenforcing stud or strip 44 of the side wall or partition is a locking link or lever 56, whose opposite end extends along the outer edge or side of the channel member or rail 86 of the panel 32, (see Figure 3) and this end of the link or lever is pivotally secured to the slidable channel member 45 by means of the bolt 57 which extends through the slot 87 in the side rails or members 36 of the swinging panel 32. The pivotal points of the lever 56 are so arranged relative to the inclining swinging wall section that they will be substantially on dead center, when the section has been swung into either of its two extreme positions, and thus lock the swinging section or panel in its adjusted position.

The wall is normally in the outwardly swung position shown in full lines in Figure 2 and also in two of the divisions or sections of the multiple of sleeping compartments shown in Figure 1, in which position of the wall, the bed. is exposed to and made accessible from the main room or apartment of the building; while day light is admitted to the compartment and therefore to the room through the windows carried by the swinging wall. The occupant while reclining on the bed or couch may admit air from the exterior by merely sliding the panel 49 upwardly to a slight extent, as shown in the third compartment from the left in Figure 1, without releasing the locking lever 56, so that the wall section will remain in its outwardly swung osition shown; the sliding of panel 49 bemg readily accomplished because of the counterbalance 54 secured thereto and the easily slid able connection between the frame members 48 and the channel rails 36. If the occupant desires to sleep entirely in the open this may readily be accomplished. by moving the panel 49 upwardly until the lug or pin 47, carried by the frame members 48, reaches the upper end of the slot or cut-away portion 46 in sliding channel member 45, which will cause the members 45 to also slide upwardly in the channel rails 36 and thereby carry the pivoted ends 57 of the lock-levers 56 upwardly with them; such upward movement of the pivoted ends 57 of the levers 56 being possible by reason of the slots 37 in the sides of the channel rails 36 of the upper panel sections 32. This will cause the levers 56 to be moved of? dead center and at the same time induce the upper panel section 32 to swing inwardly through the are of a vertically disposed circle as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The lower sliding panel 49 and its sliding track will be maintained in raised position by the weights 54, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and therefore in a sufliciently elevated position swing across the occupant of the bed or couch 26. In order that a proper stop for, and more Or less tight connection, may be effected between the swinging frame and the side walls or partitions 21, I show the side walls or partitions pr vided with the inclined angle irons or strips 58, see Figure 2, which will form abutting relation with the side rails of the swinging section when the latter has been swung to its extreme inward position as indicated in Figure 2, at which time the occupant may lower the sliding panel 49 so as to prevent draughts across the bed and at the same time prevent chilling of the main room or apartment. In order that the panel 49 may be readily manipulated, I show it provided with the grasp or stop 63, see Figure 2. Upon lowering the sliding panel 49 to its maximum lowered position, the lug or pin 47 will ride lengthwise of the slot or cut-away portion 46 of channel members 45 and engage with the lower end of the slot or cutaway portion, thereby causing the channel member 45 to be moved downwardly. Such downward movement of the channel member 45 will carry the pivoted end 57 of locking lever 56 downwardly until it is substantially on dead center with its pivotal point 55, while the lower end of the sliding panel 49 will engage with the ledge oi the sill portion 31 of the bracket or rail 81, thereby not only completely closing the opening into the room but also locking the swinging wall section in its inwardly swung position.

A series of: sleeping compartments may be arranged end to end as shown in Figure 1,, adjacent compartments separated by wall or partition 21 which may extend slightly above the root sections 22 of? the respective compartments, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, in which event I meter to employ means, somewhat as shown in Figures 4 and 5, whereby to provide a water-proof construction. The means employed, as an exemplilication, consist of the sheet metal member 59 adapted to extend the full width of the roof-sections 22 and bent into channel form with the side disposed beneath the roof-section 22 bent upwardly as shown at 59 into contact with the lower side of the roof-section; similar channel members 59 being disposed on opposite sides of an intermediate wall or partition 21 and bolted together as at (30 inFigure 5 at a point above the roof portion 22; the open side of the channel being disposed away from the partition or wall 21 in order to enable access to the bolts and nuts. After the bolts and nuts have been secured in place, I in lit) sert the ang larly bent strip 61 into place, as shown in Figure 5, and then encase both members by the outer channel strip 62 which may he slid into place from one end of the members 59 and 61 thereby completely en- '-losing the joints and providing a water shed connection. The end wall or partilien 21 of the compartment may likewise be provided with the enclosing channel member 59 on what may be termed the in ner side of the partition or wall; while the outer side of the wall or partition merely receives the channel member 62 substan tially similar to the channel member 62, eX- eept that the leg or side disposed to the outer side of the wall or partition has its end bent inwardly into juxtaposition with the wall. or partition as shown at 62 in Figure l. The members just described not only seal the joints between the rootsections and the walls or partitions and enclose the bolts and nuts. but they also act as supports and reentorceing members for the roof-sections iVhere a number of compartments are to be arranged end to end, as shown in Figures 1 and :3, the pivot points may extend entirely through the reenforeing strips i l well as the partitions 21 and constitute the pivotal points for the lock levers 56 on both sides of the wall or partition. Likewise the pivotal points 42 may be disposed through the wall or partition and through the reentorcingchanneled plates 43 on opposite sides of the wall. or partition and through the upper ends of the side rails or members 36 01"- the swinging panels or sections of both compartments, as shown in Figure 9. In Figure 1 and at the left hand end thereof, the swinging wall is shown in its inwardly swung position, thereby expo ing the bed or couch to the exterior of the building.

I have shown what I believe to be the simplest embodiment of my invention and have. described the same in terms which are employed as terms of: description and, not as terms of: limitation, as structural moditications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is rl. In a building construction, a structure having one side open, a wall for said open side comprising a swinging section and a slidable section, said slidable section being adapted to he slid upward onto and carried by said swinging section, and locking means whereby the swinging section is locked in its outwardly and inwardly swung positions, said locking means being automatically moved into and out of locking position by said sliding section.

2. In a building construction, a structure having one side open, a wall for said open side comprising an upper window-carrying section pivoted at its upper end to swing laterally toward opposite sides of the vertical plane of said pivotal point, a sliding sect-ion carried by the first mentioned section, a

locking lever pivoted at one end to the side wall or partition of the structure while the other end has a sliding pivotal relation with said swinging section, and means inter mediate of said sliding pivotal connection and the slidable section whereby said pivotal connection of the locking lever is controlled by movement oi said sliding section.

In a building construction, a structure having one side open and provided with a bed, supporting rails for said bed adapted to constitute sills disposed longitudinally along opposite sides of the bed, a wall for said open side comprising an upper swinging section adapted to swing through the arc of a vertically disposed circle, a slidable section carried by said swinging section and adapted to rest on the sill portions oi said supporting rails when in lowered position, and locking means operable through movement of the slidable section whereby said wall is locked in its outwardly and inwardly swung positions.

l. in a building construction, a. structure provided. with a bed and having an open side, a wall pivotally secured at its upper end to swing toward opposite sides ot' the bed, a portion of said wall being adapted to slide upwardly and to be carried by the other portion of said wall, a locking lever disposed at the end of the swinging wall and operatively connected therewith, and means controlled by said slidable portion whereby said locking lever is automatically controlled through movement of said slidable portion.

5. In a building construction, a structure provided with an open side, a wall for said open side comprising an upper windowcarrying portion pivoted at its upper end to swing laterally and provided at its ends with slide-ways, a lower slidablc portion adapted to slide in said slide-ways oi? the upper portion, slidable elements, intcri'nediate oi the slideways oi the upper portion and said lower portion, adapted to be controlled bv the position of said lower portion, and locking levers pivctally secured to the end walls of the structure and to said slidable elements whereby the wall is locked in its outwardly or inwardly swung positions, said slidable elements with the adjacent pivoted ends of said locking levers being controlled by the position of said lower slidable portion.

6. In a building construction, a structure provided with end walls and an open side, a swinging wall comprising an upper section pivotally secured to said end walls to swing laterally and provided with counter-weight cord'receiving pulleys adjacent the upper end, a sliding track mounted in each end of said upper section, a lower sliding section slidable in said sliding tracks, counterweights for the lower sliding section flexibly connected thereto across said pulleys of the upper section, a locking lever pivotally secured to each end wall and to each sliding track, and means intermediate of the lower sliding section and said sliding tracks whereby the latter with the attached ends of said levers are automatically shifted through movement of said sliding section.

7. In a building construction, a structure having one side open, a wall "for said open side comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being pivotally mounted and swung laterally, while the lower section is slidably mounted on the upper section, and means whereby said wall is locked in its outwardly and inwardly swung positions, said means being moved out of locking position when said lower 'section is slid upwardly beyond the predetermined point.

8. In a buildinoconstruction, a structure having one side open, a wall for said open side comprising an upper section and alower section, the upper section being pivoted at its upper end to swing laterally, while the lower section is slidably mounted on the upper section and carried thereby, locking means pivotally secured at the ends of said structure and having operative relation with said lower section, and means intermediate of said lower section and said locking means whereby the latter is actuated when said lower section reaches predetermined points in its upward and downward movements.

9. In a buiding construction, a structure having one side open, a wall for said open side comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being pivoted at its upper end to swing laterally, while the lower section is slidably mounted on the upper section, and a pair of looking levers pivoted at both ends of the structure adapted to hold the wall in its outwardly and inwardly swung positions, said levers being adapted to be moved out of locking position when said lower section reaches a predetermined point in its upward movement.

10. In a building construction, a structure comprising end walls and intermediate walls or partitions spaced apart to provide a plurality "of open sided compartments, each having a separate roof portion, means removably secured to the walls or partitions whereby the root portions are supported in place and moisture proof connections provided, a wall for the open side of each compartment consisting of a pivoted upper section adapted to swing toward opposite sides of the respective compartment, a lower section slidably mounted on the upper section, and locking levers pivoted to each end wall or partition of the respective compartments whereby the side wall is locked in its outwardly or inwardly swung positions, said locking levers being controlled by the position of said lower section relative to the upper section.

11. In a building construction, a structure comprising end walls and intermediate walls or partitions to provide a series of open sided compartments, the walls or partitions at their outer edges and at an intermediate point being provided with abutting rails, a wall for the open side of each compartment consisting of a pivoted upper section adapted to swing laterally into juxtaposition with said rails, a lower section slidable on the upper section, locking levers pivoted to the end walls or partitions for locking said side wall in place, and means intermediate or said levers and the lower section whereby the position of said levers is controlled when the lower section reaches a predetermined point in its movements.

1 HENRY C. TROST.

Witnesses GEO. P. HILL. WALTER L. WILLMAN. 

